Dave Stringer Retreats at Esalen

Mantras & Molecules: From the perspective of Eastern philosophy, the bliss we are seeking is already inside of us. From the perspective of modern brain science, this is also a true statement. To the scientist, bliss is a chemical state that the body itself produces, and it is a state that we are apparently hard-wired to seek. Chanting Sanskrit mantras is one of the world’s oldest means of finding it.

Chanting affects the areas of the brain that create our sense of where our body ends and the world begins. It also slows and steadies breathing, producing hormone and neurological changes in the body that feel simultaneously calming and thrilling. Moving from the individual level to the collective level, the effect is magnified. Through chanting, one’s sense of separation diminishes, and one’s feeling of connection increases. 

You feel somehow intimate with all the strangers surrounding you, and intensely, vividly, alive.

My "Kirtan Flight School" workshop will explore the neurochemistry of ecstasy through extensive practice of the call and response form of chanting known as kirtan. Augmenting direct experience, the workshop will also feature presentations and discussions on the emerging brain science of how music influences and alters our perceptions, mind, and spirit.


Kirtan Flight School:

“If you cannot teach me to fly, teach me to sing.” -JM Barrie, author of Peter Pan

Kirtan, an Eastern form of call-and-response mantra chanting, is experiencing a creative and popular renaissance in the West. In this consciousness-transforming practice, singers seek to vanish into the song just as raindrops merge into the ocean. Ecstasy is both the process and the product. Today, musicians and audiences all over the world are reinvigorating this ancient musical form with modern ideas and techniques. Many people are now inspired to participate in kirtan groups or to introduce chanting to yoga classes. If you're one of those people, this workshop is for you.

All participants are organized into small ensembles. Each ensemble then chooses a chant, rehearses it together, and presents a kirtan to the group. The instructors rotate through the groups, working closely with the participants to develop rhythmic and harmonic concepts, solve problems, and answer questions.

The history and philosophy of kirtan are also intensively explored, and participants learn how to present and discuss the mantras. Participants are encouraged to bring musical instruments with them, but it is understood that the most important instruments are human voices and hands. Instruction will be offered in playing the harmonium and finger cymbals, and a limited number of these instruments will be on hand for use by all.

One of the most thrilling things about kirtan is watching people light up in the discovery of their own musical selves. When you participate in a kirtan, you’re not just listening to the music. You are the music.

UPCOMING KIRTAN FLIGHT SCHOOL RETREATS:

BIG SUR, CA
Friday, January 20 - Sunday, January 22
Mantras and Molecules Retreat with Dave Stringer & Dearbhla Kelly
Esalen Institute, 55000 Highway 1, Big Sur, CA 93920
webapp.esalen.org/workshops/10380


Sunday, January 22 - Friday, January 27
Kirtan Flight School with Dave Stringer, Craig Kohland and Joni Allen
Esalen Institute, 55000 Highway 1, Big Sur, CA 93920
webapp.esalen.org/workshops/10381

Hawaii Sprit Fest

Hawaii Spirit & Healing Garden Festival brings together Yoga, Music, Hawaii and Health during a 3-day conference and community event.
Expanding Yoga and Health Awareness while supporting the local community

Over 45 Workshops Offered in Yoga, Dance, Movement and Conscious Related Topics Music Festival Featuring: Paula Fuga, Mike Love, DubKonscious, Makana, Stephen Inglis and Jon Swift Free Karma Day and Hawaii Healing Garden to Educate the Public The 2nd annual Hawaii Spirit Festival will be held from Nov 4-6, 2011 at the Turtle Bay Resort. This festival blends 3 events to offer an exciting and unique community experience to both Oahu residents and visitors.

Yoga Conference: World renowned instructors are coming together on the North Shore for one purpose: to share the knowledge and celebrate holistic awareness of yoga, music and conscious living. Over 45 workshops from 15 different instructors will be offered. Participants choose from 45 different 2-hour workshops on yoga, Hawaiian culture, and health related topics. Classes are designed cater to all levels of students, from the most basic to the most experienced, and participants are encouraged to design their schedule based on his or her personal interest and practice.

Music Festival: The Hawaii Spirit Music Festival takes place outside on Kuilima Point at Turtle Bay. One of only a few music events to take place on the North Shore, this festival brings together a powerhouse of local talent to represent Hawaii while framed with the spectacular view from the Turtle Bay lawn.

Hawaii Healing Garden and Karma Day: On Sunday November 6, the festival will feature an all day event offering Vendors, Free Yoga and Health Classes, Demonstrations and Lectures to educate the public and support our local community.

Community Outreach: Karma plays a significant part throughout the weekend. The yoga conference features a benefit panel on Friday, November 4 and a music event on Sunday November 6, both raising funding and awareness for a number of humanitarian and environmental charities. The healing garden and karma day event features a nonprofit fair increasing awareness for a number of causes while raising funding as well.

The Hawaii Spirit and Healing Garden Festival is a 3-day, conference style event celebrating holistic awareness through health, yoga, music and holistic living. This festival brings together teachers from all over the world with the intention of sharing the many facts of spiritual and conscious practices, while providing support for the local community and increasing awareness for environmental preservation. For more information, please visit www.hawaiispiritfestival.com

New Pepper Mary Video from Dalien 13 Hands!

The new single and video "Pepper Mary" by 13 HANDS has arrived. A modern day tale of an old Celtic hero, Pepper Mary with a very unique way of making the world a better place. Enjoy...forward, embed, kindly purchase THE LEGEND OF PEPPER MARY EP at YogiTunes, spread the word if you like the song and want to turn people onto it...

"There's no label involved with this at this time other than myself, so for now its about connecting with people.... one person at a time......and I can't begin to tell you how appreciative I am for your support.... as my contemporary music is combined with my music therapy and kirtan work.....so know you're contributing to helping others heal and improve their health through music and yoga with your support in spreading the video or purchasing the song/EP.

Thanks to everyone involved in the making and in the promotion...Gratitude mas grande! If you'd like to be part of the video promo/social media street team, then email 13hands1@nac.net!"

Dalien is a very gifted healer whose talents have come through a long, deep personal healing journey. An E-RYT 500 level Yoga instructor, sound therapist, PTSD/ trauma healing expert, shaman and has been an adjunct Professor of Yoga & Meditation at Montclair State University in NJ for almost a decade, Dalien has developed a unique perspective on various forms of yoga and vibrational healing approaches, shamanism, raw foods, mind-body-spirit and immune system relationships. Sparked from his inspiring healing journey of curing Crohns, Colitis, Chronic upper respiratory, allergy and chemical sensitivity issues, depression, Seliac Disease, Epstein Barr, Chronic Fatigue, head and spine trauma and other related digestive, endocrine and liver issues, Dalien has spent nearly 20 years on this quest for internal and external harmony and in doing so has enlisted the help of various teachers, holistic practitioners, Hippocrates raw/living foods institute, and other "outside the box” approaches.




Commentary by YogiTunes co-founder/CEO Alex King-Harris (aka Rara Avis)

OM is a Magic Word

We chant OM in order to ground our energy in the present moment.

When teaching kids who are brand new to yoga, I am determined to invite them into the wondrous world of all that is yoga without pushing them into a place of spooky sounds, weird ways and stuff completely unrelated to anything they’ve ever known. This mantra is a mode of transportation from where we were in our individual lives moments ago to where we are now - together in yoga.
Since explaining the true meaning of OM may not be enough to put all kids at ease, one way to make it less ominous is to give each letter a familiar association. When chanting OM, let O represent the past. The One Outcome that Occurred each instant of your life to lead you to where you are and who you are at this exact moment in time. In other words, once something is in the past, it boils down to the One thing that was, out of all the things that could have been.

Let M represent the future. The Many experiences that have yet to unfold. The Mystery of life.

When put together, they create the magical moment of NOW.

Chant OM and the kids will feel the magic. They will know what we seekers read books about, study philosophy to understand and practice yoga and meditate to experience. That is the truth that the instant you connect to the present moment, you are plugged into the source of unlimited possibilities and power. When you harness this power you are not held back by what you have done in the past or restrained by the expectations you construct for the future. You exist in the magical moment of NOW. This is the juncture where the singular outcomes of the past meet the infinite potential of the future.

There is nothing magical about living life based on what you already know. When you ground yourself between the knowledge of the past and the openness of the future, you are free. I believe we embody freedom by fully expressing our individual authentic unique self with absolute awareness that honors the Universal source of our personal manifestation. The magic of being grounded in the moment is that we become the conducting wire through which the intelligence of the universe flows. We are supported, creative, confident, courageous, intuitive and conscious. We are open to the mystery of life because we know we can handle each moment with grace. After all, we know a magic word to invoke the power of the Universe and embody it through our own voice. Take a deep breath and join in.

-Check out my 'Sounds that Ground Kids and Teenagers' playlist:

-Written by Amy Haysman, who teaches in Alpharetta GA

Amy's website: http://www.gogrounded.com

Just A Spark

“It only takes a spark to get a fire going?” That’s yoga. That’s yoga music too. One of my all time favorite teachers, Shiva Rea, once said that music is the “third language in the room,” whendescribing how yoga asana, pranayama, and meditation combine with the creative energy of music to create a holistic practice.

As a teacher, you bring people in from the outside world and help them decompress from the day. You use breath awareness and centering, but in a class that only lasts an hour and a half, there is limited time. The right musical language can facilitate a feeling of “timelessness” and “spacelessness” in a mere 90 minutes. Utilizing a mellow melody can bring the student to that experience just a little faster. Don’t just believe me – try it now. Click on one of YogiTunes playlists titled “Opening” and just experience it right now in your desk chair. Go ahead, I’ll wait...

What did you feel? How are you different? Did it work for you?

Music is such a powerful presence in our asana practice. I’ve had experiences where I thought “I’ll never be able to pretzel myself that way!” But then a special song comes on and all of a sudden my leg is up in the air and I’m balanced on my arms like magic. Sure body and focus got me there physically, but somehow the magic of the music gives more momentum.

Yoga is about clarifying thought and for some students, music is a tool to get there. This is especially true for beginning yogis. A yoga class can be an intimidating new experience – it’s a challenge just to get to class. For those people that are just beginning to awaken, a good playlist can shape and build confidence. We talk about holistic healing and the vibration of “Om,” sound is a powerful part of the whole. Let it resonate.

Try building your own playlist from the YogiTunes suggestions for opening, building, peaking, and closing. Give your practice a little newness and refreshed momentum through sound and let us know how it affected your practice or teaching.

-Check out my 'Overcoming Obstacles' playlist on YogiTunes!


-Written by Kirsten Hedden, who teaches at Namaste Wellness Studio in Peoria, IL

This Tornado Loves You

We’ve all experienced a tornado in our lives at one point or another, but I just experienced a real twister, albeit a small one. As I raced with my son in arms and my dog trailing me into the basement, the wind ripped round the trees, cracking the trunks and devastating the leaves.

Fortunately all was well and we emerged into that serene wonder of the aftermath of a storm. Neighbors picked their way through the debris and everyone came together in community. Would it be wrong to say it was somehow wonderful?




The strangest element was the energy emerging from the storm. People seemed softer, quieter, more in tune. Dare I say it – more AWAKE! Obviously, I hope it doesn’t take devastation to bring people to consciousness, but maybe sometimes it does. I had one student say that before the storm, they were in a bad mood, just sort of angry, and afterwards, they felt so much happier, like a wave of refreshing relief. They felt cleansed.

Inspired by this tornado, I invoked a message of building up the energy in my yoga class and then twisting it away and allowing everything to be released. In high winds, it is the weak branches that are lost; for the weak branches actually stifle the growth of the tree and keep it from reaching its full height and potential.

Historically, yoga has always taken inspiration from nature. This is the connection to understanding what is real and what is illusion – the test of time and nature. Taking tornado energy with you into practice will help you severe ties that are hard to break and teach you to let go of what is not needed.

Rev up your practice with a vortex of energy by booming some loud yoga music, incorporating a rigorous vinyasa practice with lots of twists, and an intention to allow everything to stir up so you can let it go.

Look for yoga music with a stormy sound that includes lots of drums and then wind down with something that reminds you of rain falling and thunder rolling in. Artists that have this sort of stormy calm sound include Dum Dum Project, Lokha, Tulku, Tuu, and Thievery Corporation. Try making your own storm sequence mix.

If you are looking for an album that has this quality throughout, try "African Dream" by Shaman's Dream.  It embodies the drumbeats and the thunder energy you need to work yourself up into a frenzy and then gently sets you back down for Savasana.

**Note**I need to give credit to this blog’s title. There is this wonderful song, “This Tornado Loves You,” by Neko Case. The lyrics are poignant and literal; a graceful yet strong reminder of this love and fear relationship our civilization has with nature.

-Check out her 'Overcoming Obstacles' playlist on YogiTunes!

-Written by Kirsten Hedden, who teaches at Namaste Wellness Studio in Peoria, IL

Music in class – yes or no?

Yoga Music is defined by the way in which it supports the flow and sequencing that occurs during a yoga class.  Stylistically, it can be relaxation music, meditation music, fitness music, ambient music and can also draw from a wide range of popular genres such as hip hop, chillout, soul, r&b, funk, classical music, etc.

What makes it yoga music is the way in which the songs are put together - hence YogiTunes supports the creation of the yoga music playlist.  A playlist in this context is a specific sequence of songs designed to fully support yoga poses, positions, sequences and structure so that the practitioner experiences a deep surrender into the overall flow of the class.

Malia Scott sits down with YogiTunes co-founder Rara Avis (Six Degrees recording artist and member of both Desert Dwellers & Shaman's Dream) to talk about his experiences of teaching to music.

Yoga Music in class – yes or no?
It’s a hot topic amongst yoga classes and teachers for sure.

by Malia Scott
courtesy of www.yoganonymous.org

Malia: In my own personal journey teaching yoga, I’ve found there is a time and a place for it. It depends on the day, the energy, the students, what you are teaching and more.
My first yoga teacher recommended not teaching with music because “it is a distraction“. Then my next teacher was all about yoga music – which was awesome.
When I first began teaching right out of teacher training it was too much – creating a playlist, then a sequence, then reading the energy of the class, sticking with a set sequence, assisting, etc. etc. The list goes on. It is time consuming creating a yoga playlist but it’s so worth the somatic journey that it can take your students on.

And now, there is a new incredible yoga music site called YogiTunes that simply rocks! It’s any yoga teachers wildest dream when it comes to creating a bad ass playlist for class. The selection is fantastic and they are just getting started. I am stoked to see where they go with this.

Malia: Rara, Can you tell the Yoganonymous readers a litle bit about YogiTunes.com and what it means for the Global Yoga Community.


Rara Avis: What it means is that there is now a dedicated online home with the best and broadest selection of music for the yogic lifestyle. One of the core areas we focus on is to provide yoga teachers with hand-picked selections of opening, building, peak, cool down and savasana songs that they can use to build great sequences for their classes. Additionally, we’re supporting artists who want to connect with the yoga community through their music, and overall turn as many people as we can on to amazing music out there that suits the yogic lifestyle of embodiment.

Our vision has and always will be to create community through the power of music and yoga. We’ve been doing this for over 15 years with our own releases, live events and in-class performances, so for us YogiTunes is an extension of that mission that allows us to reach a much broader audience. So ultimately it means more amazing community and more great music!

Malia: As a leading yoga producer, what are your TOP 10 tips on How to Teach to Music.


Rara Avis: When I teach with music my first goal is to support a shift in perspective… “we are music”. Our bodies are built to resonate sound from within – which is a deeply transformative experience. By helping people get in touch with the mechanisms that support resonation within the body, a felt sense occurs that allows us to become the music, vs. feeling separate from it. This can be a lifelong experience but can also be understood in a moment with a simple shift of how we see and feel our bodies. It’s a beautiful gift that one of my guitar teachers gave me in music school… after 3 years of relentlessly practicing guitar scales he said to me one day, “Alex, you realize you’re not playing your guitar right? You are the instrument… the guitar is just a tool for expressing that.“

Rhythm is key…

Pulse is something we feel long before we’re capable of higher cognitive functions during fetal development, thus rhythm brings us back to our deepest roots. The periodic occurrence of repeating cycles is something we witness time and again in all aspects of life. By affirming our connection with rhythm using simple tapping, clapping, breathing and feeling exercises, we in turn affirm our connection with ourselves and with what surrounds us. Again, the goal is to feel more connected, and less separate by tuning into the power of rhythm.

Pitch…

Having a good sense of pitch has everything to do with being an attentive listener. In music school we took ‘ear training’ classes, which was basically learning how to listen to ourselves and others at a much more refined level. By doing so, the ear is capable of informing the muscles responsible for the minute adjustments necessary to attain a nice sounding voice. Dropping into a deep space of listening is key for musicians… it’s a constant meditation.

Fear…

Most people have a natural fear that their voice, be it through singing, playing an instrument, dancing, etc. will be perceived as less than attractive by others. By giving people permission to be in a learning phase, and demonstrating vulnerability as a professional, my goal is to make people feel at ease with where they’re at as opposed to a sense of anxiety that comes from wishing they were better than they might be. It’s the same on the mat… compare yourself to others and anxiety can occur. Surrender to your current state of being and energy can truly begin to move and help take you where you want to go.

Stealing…

The most important lesson I was taught at music school was that it was mandatory to take freely from the masters who had come before. It’s not stealing – it’s more like honoring what’s already occurred and accepting that you will do it differently. Learn your favorite music by heart – play it until you know it inside and out. It will benefit you greatly to have the songs, rhythms, harmonies, melodies and ideas of your favorite musicians at your fingertips. Nothing is new, and everything has already been played, so true innovation comes from learning the rules and knowing when to improvise.

Improvising vs. Theory…

You can’t find freedom without limitation and restraint. Pure improvisation and pure theoretical playing both create stagnancy. When you learn theory and understand how to improvise, you have unlimited choices. When you’re stuck with one or the other, you become predictable and monotonous. Improvisation inspires passion, theory creates consistency and forward motion. Use both when creating music and you’ll be excited with the results.

Harmonic Overtone Series…

I always teach people about overtones. They are the building blocks of all musical elements… they also dictate the patters we find in architecture, natural structures, physics, art, and other areas of life. It’s a pattern of whole number relationships that are found in all naturally occurring sound waves. The pattern repeats itself into infinity, 1/1, 1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/5, etc. – and is responsible for everything we do in music. They’ve been there since the beginning of time – and are the closest thing to God/Goddess I have ever directly experienced in life. They’re a key map to learn to further one’s understanding of rhythm, melody and harmony. The philosophical lessons we can garner from them are quite profound.

Song writing…

Don’t let the concept of a perfect song stop you from completing the song writing process. Blocks can be hard to shift if you’re waiting for perfection… my experience has been to complete the song writing process and move forward. Learn from my ‘mis-takes’ and incorporate those into my next song writing experience. Repetition is the mother of perfection… so I always encourage people to finish and then start again, vs. keeping something unfinished forever.

Collaborate…

Find musicians at your level or ideally a bit better than you – and make music with them. Exploring how to communicate ideas, work on creating together, and hashing out concepts until they find their natural state of resonance and balance with other people is a great exercise.

Perform…

Most everyone has performance anxiety. Perform in front of people you know and trust who will love you no matter what at first. Then slowly build up to playing in front of total strangers. Feedback from other people is invaluable. Take it in, but don’t judge it as good or bad, as it’s just their opinion. If someone doesn’t like what you’re doing try to understand why… you can’t please everyone, but negative feedback can be just as helpful as positive stuff when it comes down to refining your art.

EXTRA – HAVE FUN!

Always remember to enjoy yourself, especially when it’s hard and stressful. Music is a gift from the angels… just to have the privelige of making it is something work celebrating constantly!

Malia: What do you consider an epic yoga playlist?


Rara Avis: The most epic yoga playlist is capable of responding in-class to what’s happening in the moment, while providing a consistent, safe, reliable container for people to drop deep into their practice with. This can be done with a carefully sequenced series of songs based on an understanding of what provides non-distracting support that drops yogis deeper into communion with themselves and the surrounding environment. The gauge for this is wether or not as a listener you’re having the same experience. If you’re finding yourself distracted then chances are the music isn’t doing it for you either. At YogiTunes we aim to give teachers awesome choices that we’ve found over the years do this consistently. We draw from a wide variety of musical styles, but always listen for distracting elements vs. ones that bring upon a natural state of trance.

Malia: What are some tips for teachers that are newer to creating playlists for yoga classes?


Rara Avis: Sequence the songs using our recommendation playlists and then practice to it yourself at home. DJ Saraswati is a virtual DJ we’ve created to harness the collective recommendation experience of myself and my two co-founders Craig Kohland and Amani Friend. We’re not saying these are the only choices, but as a new playlist creator you can draw on over 40 collective years of experience DJ-ing, producing, composing and performing music for yoga – often live in-class and for yoga instructional videos.

We wanted to give teachers all that experience which is why we created DJ Saraswati as our offering to teachers looking to find great songs for specific segments of their classes.

You can also look at other teachers you may know and like – see what they’re playing and where in the sequence of songs they put it. Most yoga classes follow an opening, building peak, cool down, relaxation type flow. Sometimes classes will peak twice… but the elements used to create those peaks and cool downs remain consistent. It just depends on what style of songs you like to create the vibe of your classes, so don’t be afraid to express yourself by picking some outrageous peak songs,
or heart felt relaxation songs!

I usually have my songs available during practice so that I can play with the order until it feels right. Very soon we’ll be rolling out a new tool for teachers that allows you to do this from an online streaming portal! (more to be announced about in coming months)

Malia: Thanks Rara for taking the time to educating everyone here at Yoganonymous about YogiTunes.com and sharing these essential tips for creating yoga playlists. Many blessings to you on this exciting new journey!

Whether you are a yoga teacher, a student or an artist, I encourage you to check out YogiTunes.com
It’s pretty rad to say the least. Let the yoga music revolution begin!

Enjoy!

__()__
Namaste

Original Article from: www.yoganonymous.org

Interview of YogiTunes co-founder/CEO Alex King-Harris (aka Rara Avis) by Yoganonymous writer Malia Scott